Little Rock's Therapeutic Recreation program for youths and adults with special needs is unique in Arkansas for how it works to integrate people with disabilities into the community, according to the program's coordinator.
The 15th year of the special recreation program, which operates out of the Ottenheimer Community Center, starts Tuesday with adult classes, which are scheduled Tuesdays through Thursdays weekly. Periodic youth programs are planned for afternoons, weekends and days when children are out of school.
Therapeutic Recreation is sponsored by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. Two full-time staff members monitor the sessions, which are meant to engage participants in the community and bring out emotional, social and physical changes in people with disabilities.
"A lot of our participants, when they come to us, we really try to treat them like adults and we have expectations from them," said Alanna Wilson, the program's coordinator. "When they feel like we are expecting things from them, we get that from them and they grow and they have this sense of independence with us, and belonging."
Classes include out-of-town field trips, art programs, instructional sessions on independent living, leisure sessions, fitness and nutrition, and community outings. In the summer and on weekends, the city offers sessions for youths.
Wilson said most municipal programs offer job skills for people with disabilities, but she's never heard of another that is as unique as Little Rock's.
"We really like to get them involved in the community. We stay on the go. We're out in the community a lot and encourage volunteer projects," she said.
Participants have a variety of developmental disabilities including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and pervasive developmental disability.
Tonya Camp's son has participated in the youth program for about three years. Dorian Camp, 15, has a high-functioning type of autism. He is home-schooled, and Tonya Camp says she's very protective of him because he is naive and trusting.
But Tonya Camp is so comfortable with the city's program that she has let Dorian attend an overnight camping trip.
"Dorian has loved it," she said. "He has gone rock climbing, camping overnight. That was a big deal. He's shown more independence, definitely, and more confidence. He looks forward to all of the activities. He checks the calendar to see when the next one is."
There is a cost to the programs, but for many participants, their Medicaid coverage pays for the classes.
The youth summer day camp for ages 8 to 18 -- which lasts Mondays through Fridays but doesn't include overnight stays -- costs $75. Costs of weekend and other youth activities vary.
The adult program -- meant for people age 21 and up or those who have graduated high school -- costs $240 per week for three days a week, $165 per week for two days or $100 per week for one day a week.
Classes are full for the spring program.
"The interventions are designed to teach new skills and knowledge; enhance self-concept, self-esteem and confidence; foster peer relationships and community integration; develop lifelong leisure skills; and improve quality of life," said Luis Gonzalez, the city's communications and marketing director.
The program will host basketball and soccer clinics for youths this year.
"These sports clinics are designed to demonstrate that physical or visual disabilities are not obstacles to an active rewarding life," Gonzalez said.
Tonya Camp said her son isn't fully abled but isn't completely disabled, and children like him "get lost in the cracks." But the city's program has accommodated her son perfectly.
"They get to go out on their own and feel the independence, gain confidence and get exposure to everything," she said.
Wilson said she's proud of the independence that the program offers participants.
"Every day is so different and every day you get to see little victories. I think that's really what we get to see here. It's not so much we see overnight changes and everyone is suddenly better, but we continue to see families and participants win little victories and get closer to their goals and being comfortable and able to integrate and enjoy themselves," Wilson said.
Metro on 01/25/2015